Contract Details: Watt, Rams, Texans
With teams preparing their cap sheets for the start of the NFL season, we’ve seen a number of front offices rework some contracts. We’ve compiled some of the recent contract maneuverings (as well as some details on recent signings and extension) below:
- T.J. Watt, LB (Steelers): restructured contract yesterday, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport (on Twitter). The move opened $6.75MM in space for Pittsburgh. Watt inked a four-year deal worth up to $112MM (including $80MM guaranteed) last September.
- Rob Havenstein, OT (Rams): three-year extension. The deal is worth $34.5MM, according to Rapoport (on Twitter). The extension includes $24.1MM guaranteed and offers $6MM in incentives.
- Tyler Higbee, TE (Rams): restructured contract earlier this week, according to ESPN’s Field Yates (on Twitter). The team converted $4.75MM of Higbee’s base salary into a signing bonus, creating $3.8MM in space.
- Jalen Thompson, S (Cardinals): three-year extension. The $40MM deal includes $24.5MM in guaranteed money and a $10MM signing bonus, according to Aaron Wilson of ProFootballNetwork.com (on Twitter).
- Lane Johnson, OT and Jake Elliott, K (Eagles): restructured contracts today, according to Yates (on Twitter). The Eagles converted $5.88MM of Johnson’s base salary and $2.715MM of Elliot’s base salary into signing bonuses, creating about $6.9MM in cap space.
- O.J. Howard, TE (Texans): one-year deal. The contract is worth $1.035MM, according to Wilson (on Twitter). The tight end will receive $910K in offset from the $1.945MM guaranteed base salary he got from his previous deal with the Bills. When coupled with the $1.25MM signing bonus he got from Buffalo, Howard will earn a total of $3.25MM this year.
- Eric Murray, S (Texans): restructured contract yesterday, per Yates (on Twitter). Specifically, the team converted $1.465MM of his contract into a signing bonus, opening $732.5K in cap space.
- Ka’imi Fairbairn, K and Cameron Johnston, P (Texans): restructured contracts earlier this week, per Wilson (on Twitter). The two moves saved the Texans $2.1MM in cap savings.
Cardinals WR Rondale Moore Suffers Hamstring Injury
Rondale Moore suffered an injury today during practice. According to Aaron Wilson of ProFootballNetwork.com (on Twitter), the Cardinals wide receiver suffered a hamstring injury that will require further examination.
Moore went down while running a route, and the injury was described as “serious.” The wideout will undergo an MRI to determine the extent of the injury.
The 22-year-old was a second-round pick by the Cardinals in the 2021 draft. He showed potential during his rookie campaign, hauling in 54 receptions for 435 yards and one score in 14 games (seven starts). Moore also showed off his versatility, compiling another 76 yards on the ground and returning 21 punts and 13 kicks.
The wideout is expected to see a bigger role during his second season in the NFL, especially with DeAndre Hopkins suspended for the first six games. The wideout was expected to start at receiver opposite Marquise Brown, but this latest injury obviously throws a wrench in those plans.
If Moore is forced to miss any time, the Cardinals will have to dig deep into their depth chart for some reinforcement opposite Hollywood. The Cardinals are also rostering A.J. Green, Andy Isabella, and Greg Dortch, with Andre Baccellia and Victor Bolden stashed on the practice squad. It’s worth noting that Zach Ertz is nursing an injury of his own, so Kyler Murray may have a limited selection of pass-catchers on Sunday.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 9/7/22
Today’s practice squad moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: CB Corey Ballentine, QB Jarrett Guarantano
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed: LB Kyler Fackrell
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: DT Daviyon Nixon
Houston Texans
- Signed: RB Gerrid Doaks
- Released: TE Paul Quessenberry
New York Jets
- Signed: Zonovan Knight, Eric Smith
- Released: DQ Thomas
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: TE Troy Fumagalli, WR Connor Wedington
- Released: WR Willie Snead
Cardinals Place QB Colt McCoy On IR
The Cardinals will begin the season without their backup quarterback. Colt McCoy landed on IR Wednesday. Arizona promoted Trace McSorley from its practice squad.
McCoy did not play during Arizona’s preseason slate. While Kliff Kingsbury said the veteran backup was dealing with arm soreness early in training camp, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets the 13th-year passer suffered a strained calf.
Although the Cardinals would hope not to need McCoy this season, given that his participation is tied to Kyler Murray‘s availability, they did need him in 2021. Making three starts for an injured Murray, McCoy helped the Cards to two wins — each over NFC West rivals — that certainly went a long way toward the team booking a wild-card berth.
Despite not seeing much time during his long-term Washington stay, the former Texas Longhorn helped the Giants to a win over the playoff-bound Seahawks in 2020. New York, however, chose to replace McCoy with Mike Glennon — which turned out to be a significant downgrade — in 2021. McCoy completed 74.7% of his passes last season, with both of his wins coming while DeAndre Hopkins was out. McCoy, who turned 36 on Monday, re-signed with the team this offseason on a two-year, $7.5MM deal.
Formerly a Ravens backup, McSorley wound up in Arizona in November 2021; the Cardinals signed him off the Ravens’ practice squad. The team used McSorley frequently during its 2022 preseason but opted to waive him. The former sixth-round pick stayed with the team on a P-squad agreement, but he will now be Murray’s primary backup. McSorley has attempted 10 career passes.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 9/6/22
Here are today’s practice squad moves from around the NFL:
Arizona Cardinals
- Released: WR Jontre Kirklin
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed: LB Kyler Fackrell
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: DT Daviyon Nixon
- Released: DE Drew Jordan
Cincinnati Bengals
- Signed: CB Allan George
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: LB Jordan Kunaszyk
Detroit Lions
- Released: TE Derrick Deese
Houston Texans
- Signed: RB Gerrid Doaks
Kansas City Chiefs
- Signed: S James Wiggins
- Released: LB Azur Kamara
Las Vegas Raiders
- Signed: WR Keelan Cole, G Alex Bars
- Released: DE Zach VanValkenburg
- Placed on practice squad/injured list: OL Vitaliy Gurman
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: CB Duke Shelley
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: QB Jake Luton
New York Giants
- Signed: WR Marcus Johnson
- Released: WR C.J. Board
New York Jets
- Signed: RB Zonovan Knight, WR Diontae Spencer, T Eric Smith
- Released: WR Calvin Jackson Jr., LB DQ Thomas
Minor NFL Transactions: 9/2/22
As we inch closer to Week 1, teams continue to try to put the final pieces together on their rosters. Here’s todays minor moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Waived from IR with injury settlement: TE Chris Pierce Jr.
Cincinnati Bengals
- Waived from IR with injury settlement: G Lamont Gaillard
Dallas Cowboys
- Waived from IR with injury settlement: RB Aaron Shampklin
Green Bay Packers
- Waived from IR with injury settlement: TE Alize Mack, TE Nate Becker
Houston Texans
- Released: WR Chris Conley
Las Vegas Raiders
- Released from IR with injury settlement: LB Tae Davis, TE Jacob Hollister
Los Angeles Rams
- Signed: LB Jake Gervase
Philadelphia Eagles
- Waived from IR with injury settlement: TE Jaeden Graham
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Released from IR with injury settlement: CB Rashard Robinson
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 9/2/22
Teams are still constructing their initial 16-man practice squads. Here is the latest on how those are shaping up:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: DL Andrew Brown
Chicago Bears
- Signed: OL Zachary Thomas
- Released: DL Micah Dew-Treadway
Denver Broncos
- Signed: CB Essang Bassey
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: Micah Abernathy
- Released: CB Rico Gafford
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed: DB Josh Thompson, WR Seth Williams
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed: RB Larry Rountree
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: WR Freddie Swain
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: RB Jason Huntley, DL Renell Wren
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: LB Josh Onujiogu, DE Jabari Zuniga
Washington Commanders
- Signed: LB De’Jon Harris
Cardinals, S Jalen Thompson Agree To Extension
The Cardinals are keeping a key member of their secondary in the fold for the foreseeable future. The team announced on Friday that safety Jalen Thompson has signed a three-year extension. NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero tweets that the pact is worth nearly $40MM, and includes $24.5MM in guaranteed money. 
The Cardinals added Thompson via the 2019 supplemental draft. Since then, he has taken on an increasingly larger role with each passing season. The 24-year-old logged a snap share of 91% in 2021, making him a large part of the team’s plans now and in the future. He had one season remaining on his rookie contract, meaning that he will be on the books through the 2025 campaign.
Ankle issues limited Thompson to just five games in 2020, but he bounced back with a full campaign last year. Starting 12 of 17 games, he racked up 121 tackles, three interceptions and seven pass breakups. His coverage stats – 67% completion percentage and 99.2 passer rating allowed, and five touchdowns surrendered as the nearest defender – weren’t as glowing, but the Washington State product was an integral part of the Cardinals’ backend.
With this deal finalized, Arizona now has two significant commitments at the position; the team signed Budda Baker to a four-year extension in 2020 which briefly made him the league’s highest-paid player safety. That contract has since been surpassed by five others, but its $14.75MM AAV will partner with Thompson’s (roughly $13.3MM) to form one of the league’s most expensive tandems at the third level of the defense.
This deal is also another on a long list of significant extensions worked out over the course of the summer by Arizona, including quarterback Kyler Murray and left tackle D.J. Humphries. With Thompson locked in for the next four seasons, the team has even more cost certainty amongst several of its most important players.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 9/1/22
Today’s practice squad moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: LB Devon Kennard, S Steven Parker, S Josh Thomas, OL Badara Traore
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: TE Anthony Firkser, TE Tucker Fisk, CB Ka’Dar Hollman
Buffalo Bills
- Signed: QB Zach Davidson, DB Kyler McMichael, OL Ryan Van Demark
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: QB Jacob Eason, WR C.J. Sanders
- Released: S Kenny Robinson
Chicago Bears
- Signed: OL Kellen Diesch, LB Joe Thomas
Dallas Cowboys
- Signed: RB Qadree Ollison, C Dakoda Shepley
Denver Broncos
- Signed: G William Sherman
Detroit Lions
- Signed: K Aldrick Rosas
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: TE Shaun Beyer, CB Benjie Franklin, WR Juwann Winfree
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: G Arlington Hambright, LB Segun Olubi
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed: K James McCourt
Kansas City Chiefs
- Signed: LB Cole Christiansen
Las Vegas Raiders
- Signed: OL Vitaliy Gurman, DB J.R. Reed
- Released: OT Bamidele Olaseni
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: CB Kalon Barnes, OT Larnel Coleman, WR River Cracraft, OL James Empey, LB Cameron Goode, LB Porter Gustin, S Verone McKinley III, WR Braylon Sanders, DT Niles Scott, DT Ben Stille, WR Freddie Swain, RB ZaQuandre White
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: QB David Blough, CB Tay Gowan, WR Travis Toivonen
New England Patriots
- Signed: WR Lynn Bowden Jr.
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: TE JP Holtz, LB Drew Desjarlais, DL Christian Ringo
New York Giants
- Signed: OL Wyatt Davis, OL Max Garcia, DB Tony Jefferson, DE Henry Mondeaux, WR Kalil Pimpleton, LB Charles Wiley
- Released: DB Darren Evans, OT Roy Mbaeteka, OT Garrett McGhin, DB Nate Meadors
New York Jets
- Signed: CB Craig James, LB Chazz Surratt
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: LB Davion Taylor
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: CB Mark Gilbert
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: CB Xavier Crawford, OL Jalen McKenzie, QB Sean Mannion
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: CB Anthony Chesley
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: TE Kevin Rader
- Released: WR Reggie Roberson, TE David Wells
Minor NFL Transactions: 9/1/22
Teams continue to tinker with their rosters after hundreds of players were cut earlier this week. We’ve tracked all of today’s minor moves below:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: TE Stephen Anderson, LS Aaron Brewer, CB Mike Ford, G Colby Gossett, LB Nick Kwiatkoski, S Dean Marlowe
- Placed on IR: S Charles Washington, WR Antoine Wesley
- Waived from IR: OL Greg Long
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: DT Abdullah Anderson,
- Placed on IR: DL Marlon Davidson, TE John Fitzpatrick, LB Deion Jones, OL Jalen Mayfield, CB Isaiah Oliver
Baltimore Ravens
- Waived from IR: DT Aaron Crawford
Chicago Bears
- Claimed off waivers (from Vikings): WR Ihmir Smith-Marsette
- Placed on IR: WR N’Keal Harry
Cincinnati Bengals
- Signed: WR Mike Thomas
- Placed on IR: DE Khalid Kareem
Dallas Cowboys
- Signed: DB C.J. Goodwin, LS Jake McQuaide
- Placed on IR: OT Tyron Smith, WR James Washington
Denver Broncos
- Signed: CB Darius Phillips, DT Mike Purcell, TE Eric Tomlinson
- Released: DB Essang Bassey
- Placed on IR: TE Greg Dulcich, CB Michael Ojemudia
- Released from IR: CB Donnie Lewis
Green Bay Packers
- Released from IR: WR Danny Davis
Indianapolis Colts
- Placed on IR: LB Trevor Denbow
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Claimed off waivers (from Bears): LB Caleb Johnson
- Released: DL Adam Gotsis
- Reverted to IR: K Jake Verity
Los Angeles Rams
- Placed on IR: LB Daniel Hardy
Miami Dolphins
- Placed on IR: S Clayton Fejedelem
- Released from IR: CB Mackensie Alexander, DB D’Angelo Ross
New England Patriots
- Placed on IR: WR Tyquan Thornton
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: RB Dwayne Washington
- Placed on IR: OT Trevor Penning, DL Malcolm Roach
New York Giants
- Signed: LB Austin Calitro, TE Tanner Hudson, DL Nick Williams
- Claimed off waivers (from Ravens): G Tyre Phillips
- Placed on IR: OL Shane Lemieux, DE Elerson Smith, CB Rodarius Williams
- Released from IR: TE Dre Miller, TE Ricky Seals-Jones
New York Jets
- Signed: S Marcell Harris
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Claimed off waivers (from Jaguars): LB Jamir Jones
- Released: LB Derrek Tuszka
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: TE Tyler Kroft, DE Jordan Willis
- Placed on IR: LB Curtis Robinson, S Jimmie Ward
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: CB Justin Coleman
- Placed on IR: DL LJ Collier
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Placed on IR: C Ryan Jensen
- Waived/injured: WR Cyril Grayson Jr.
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: WR Cody Hollister
- Placed on IR: WR Racey McMath